Tanzania and Barbados strengthen bilateral cooperation in energy, tourism, and skills development

Tanzania’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Doto Biteko, held discussions with the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, during an official meeting at her residence in Bridgetown, Barbados. The two leaders agreed to enhance cooperation between their nations across various sectors.

Prime Minister Mottley emphasised the importance of a joint strategy to promote tourism between Barbados, Tanzania, and the wider East African region. She highlighted the vast potential for collaboration in the hospitality sector, leveraging both regions' rich tourism attractions for mutual benefit.

In addition to tourism, the discussions also focused on strengthening vocational training opportunities between Caribbean nations and African countries. Mottley stressed the significance of improving market linkages and facilitating expert exchanges in key sectors through structured agreements.

Furthermore, she noted the demand for expertise in water management and infrastructure, suggesting the possibility of knowledge-sharing initiatives between the two nations to enhance capacity and experience in these critical areas.

For his part, Deputy Prime Minister Biteko welcomed these proposals, noting their potential for positive impact. He affirmed that relevant Tanzanian ministries and diplomatic channels would assess and facilitate implementation.

Biteko also highlighted Tanzania’s commitment to clean energy, spearheaded by President Samia Suluhu Hassan. He reiterated the government’s goal to ensure that 80% of Tanzanians transition to clean cooking energy by 2034.

The ten-year initiative aims to reduce health risks associated with unsafe energy use, mitigate environmental pollution, and lower respiratory disease cases.

“In January this year, we hosted the Africa Heads of State Meeting (M300) in Dar es Salaam, aimed at providing electricity access to 300 million Africans within five years. This marks a major step forward in our energy agenda,” Biteko noted.

He further elaborated that Tanzania’s participation in the Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) conference in Barbados underscores the country’s strong commitment to sustainable energy solutions. He expressed optimism that both nations would find more opportunities for collaboration to drive socio-economic progress.

Biteko’s meeting with Prime Minister Mottley concluded his official visit to Barbados, where he attended the international Sustainable Energy for All conference and engaged in stakeholder meetings aimed at advancing energy sector improvements for mutual benefit.

Accompanying the Deputy Prime Minister were Shaib Kaduara, Minister for Water and Energy; Humphrey Polepole, Tanzania’s Ambassador to Cuba; Felichesmi Mramba, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy; and Angellah Kairuki, Presidential Advisor on Energy and Community Development.